DSMA preview: Best 3D Movie

The surge in 3D productions need not always be a sly way for the film studios to generate more dosh (*cough*ClashOfTheTitans*splutter*). For the recent advances in computer generated imagery can really help the audience to feel immersed in the events they witness unfold on the big screen, courtesy of a pair of special specs. Here are the Digital Spy Movie Awards nominees for the finest cinematic purveyors of all things three dimensional over the past year...

"It is especially beautiful at night when the flora and fauna catch the light of a nearby gas planet and the rainforest glows like a giant lava lamp. All this gorgeous scenery is realized with a maniacal attention to detail, right down to the dandelion-like seed pods that are almost constantly floating between the trees." [SP]

"[Tim Burton's] unique brand of Technicolor gothic feels native to this bizarre place (ditto Johnny Depp's Hatter) and the sheer density of the imagery and use of 3D does make it feel as if the enchanted forest might just swallow you up. But you might also feel you cannot see the forest for the trees because being constantly bombarded with sparkly CGI means less room to appreciate the heart's journey." [SP]

"[The impressive cast's] mannerisms often push through the pixels, lending their characters expressiveness and, in Scrooge's case, pathos. The detail on the computer renderings is often remarkable - you can spot the individual hairs on the tip of Scrooge's nose and glide over and around the streets of 19th century London." [SR]

"It's a rites of passage tale that has more in common with the fantasy-adventure fun of the Harry Potter series than any other CG toon from recent times. Of course, it's all presented in 3D to make the most of the epic scenery and the exotic creatures. The incredible design and visual spectacle of Dragon is its biggest asset; the soaring flight sequences rival the Avatar banshee rides for airborne thrills." [SR]

"[Directors] Giwa and Pasquini's background is in music videos and during the set pieces at a dingy nightclub and the final street dance contest, they come into their own with some nifty quickfire camerawork that matches the breathtaking dance moves. As one long advert for UK dance, the film works well, capturing the energy and diversity of the underground and overground scenes." [AF]

"A sole criticism is the now-obligatory money-making exercise of the movie being in 3D. It's used infrequently enough here to be pretty pointless and even when it's deployed it does very little, apart from sapping the color from the screen. But that minor quibble aside, Shrek Forever After is a fairy tale ending for the series." [MN]

"Toy Story 3 feels more dynamic and gag-loaded than its predecessors, but still has sight of Pixar's patented emotional core. The opening sequence - a pulpy Indiana Jones-style set piece as imagined by a young Andy - sets the tone for the caper, which takes the form of a jailbreak film in the mould of The Great Escape." [SR]

"The film's 3D is eye-popping and convincing, with director Pete Docter using a lush color palette for the tropical surroundings and its weird and wonderful inhabitants. With its pulpy and fantastical plot, postcard-perfect scenery and cranky leading man, Up is in certain ways the film the last Indiana Jones could have been. " [SR]